NHL Playoffs: Panthers vs. Islanders Game 6 full highlights, final score

Highlights from the New York Islanders 2-1 double overtime win over the Florida Panthers  in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round playoffs.

The New York Islanders snapped a 23-year playoff drought thanks to some heroics from John Tavares in a 2-1 double overtime win in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference first round on Sunday night.

A rocking Barclays Center got the Islanders going early, as they came out with energy and were the more physical team with 15 hits in the first. New York controlled possession for much of the period, but could not generate many good scoring opportunities to test Roberto Luongo.

For the fifth time in the series, the Panthers would open the scoring. An Islanders turnover led to Jonathan Huberdeau’s first career playoff goal on an acrobatic play at the 18:58 mark and 1-0 Panthers lead at the intermission.

After a good first five minutes of the second period for New York, Florida began to dictate the action with constant pressure in the attacking zone, as it had done for much of the series. A good Islanders penalty kill and 12 Thomas Greiss kept the deficit at 1-0 by the second intermission.

Florida did make a couple of defensive mistakes on giveaways in their own zone during the period, forcing Roberto Luongo to make a handful of nice saves.

The Islanders could not sustain any momentum through the first half of the third, and Luongo turned away what few chances they did generate. A Power Play at the 12:37 mark gave New York a brief flicker of hope, but a combination of giveaways and Luongo saves ensured the Islanders came up empty.

Just when the game looked over, John Tavaras scored with 53.2 second left after the Panthers missed a great chance at an empty net, in part due to a trip on Vincent Trocheck that wasn’t called. For the third time in the series, the two teams required overtime.

Neither team could break through in an overtime period dominated by the Islanders, as two consecutive games in a playoff series went to double overtime for the first time since 2003.

Tavaras ensured there would be no third overtime with a spectacular goal at the 10:41 mark to send the Islanders to the Conference Semifinals. While the Panthers outplayed New York for much of the series, Tavaras and Greiss were the best two individuals on the ice in the round.

Three stars

3. Roberto Luongo, G, Florida. Mistake on final goal shouldn’t taint outstanding 49-save performance. 

2. Thomas Greiss, G, New York. Faced constant pressure yet again and allowed only one goal on 42 shots faced.

1. John Tavaras, C, New York. Will forever have a place in Islanders’ lore after two dramatic goals in clinching game.

Full highlights

Next up

The Islanders move on to face the Tampa Bay Lightning in Round 2. Florida has a bright future with a great young core.

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